Sand Arts persists despite spring drizzle
SCAD’s 2014 Sand Arts Festival, held annually on Tybee Island, persisted despite the worrisome weather forecast. Although it drizzled on and off throughout the event, everyone managed to enjoy a day spent outdoors.
The event officially lasted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – the time contestants were allowed to work on their sculptures – but Sand Arts managed to draw people in all day long. SCAD Radio set a relaxing mood with their choice of reggae, indie pop and indie rock music.
Multiple animals made an appearance as well, including a turtle, a walrus, a snake, crocodile and gorilla – all sculpted out of Tybee sand. In the middle of them all was a large bee hive, a true tribute to SCAD spirit.
The contest consisted of six categories: Wind Sculpture, Sand Castle, Sand Sculpture, Sand Relief, Gray’s Reef, and the Alumni Choice Award.
Industrial design graduate student Nathan Porteous from North Andover, Massachusetts, and third-year industrial design major Evan Stolatis from Pleasantville, New York, made up team number three. They paired together for their advanced model prototyping class and submitted their midterm project, a hand-made windmill, into the Wind Sculpture contest.
“It is half-flower, half-bear trap, and 100 percent awesome,” said Porteous. “With wind it spins and opens up and when the wind stops it closes.”
As a first timer at Sand Arts, Porteous walked in with limited expectations. Stolatis on the other hand had attended the event once before.
“It is less sunny this year but victory is still my expectation,” said Stolatis.
Each team brought different props to the beach, including boxes, plants, buckets and more, while the event’s coordinators provided shovels.
A great number of SCAD faculty members made an appearance in support of the event, working at the registration table or taking part themselves in the sculpting process.
Two design professors, Christopher Oszlewski and Heather Szatsmary, participated in both sculpting and registration.
“I’ve lost track of how many years I’ve come to Sand Arts. It’s my favorite day of SCAD all year,” said Szatsmary, 3-D design professor and the coordinator for student group Hillel. “My expectations were low because of the weather, but people came out anyway and they’re the ones who are serious and here to win.”
Many professors proposed the event as an extra credit field trip.
Convenient for many of the students who showed up, Tybee’s North Beach Grill was located across the parking lot from the competition. Many participants tried to maintain their energy by ordering out from the restaurant.
Third-year animation major Chennon Roberts from Auburn, Alabama, teamed for the second year in a row with third-year illustration major Josh Bean from Charleston, South Carolina. Together they created one of the animal sculptures, the gorilla.
“The first year we didn’t come as early as we did this year. This time we made sure we came early and got a nice spot,” said Roberts. “I definitely am enjoying it more this year.”
“She’s super bossy so I was following her order the whole time,” said Bean jokingly. “It’s been a really fun way to spend the weekend.”
Both Roberts and Bean agreed that they will be competing again next year.
Chris Nitsche, a SCAD professor and the director of foundation studies, organized the event. Once the final votes were tallied, it was Nitsche who announced the winners.
“I want to thank the sponsors: the ones who provided our Coca-Colas, Gray’s Reef; the Underwater Sea Creature Prize, the School of Foundation Studies; the faculty that worked on this event and the alumni who came in last minute. There’s no way we could get this thing done without their help,” said Nitsche.
Nitsche requested that despite his appreciation for the extensive talent displayed on the beach, the community help to clean up afterward.
“The city of Tybee has donated this beach to us and we have to do right by it,” said Nitsche.
Following the announcements, SCAD campus photography took photos of each winning team.
“I’m super excited and I can’t believe we won two awards,” said Roberts.
“It was no surprise – I’ve got her on my team so I knew we would win,” Bean continued.
